Description:

Sasa vetchii is the largest of the dwarf bamboos I grow, reaching over 5’ high, with a pencil-size culms diameter.  The deep green leaves can get to be nearly 1’ long and 3” wide, and are very ornamental in winter as freezing temperatures turn the leaf margins cream-white.  It thrives in part to full shade, in moist, organic, slightly acid soils, and is cold hardy to about 0 degrees F.  It will spread quickly once established, and can be pruned annually in spring (just prior to shooting) to be keep it fresh and help control spread.  It’s great as a ground cover or container plant, for contrasting foliage texture and color with surrounding plants, or as a specimen in the winter garden. 

Planting History:

I acquired a small field division of this plant while doing a maintenance demonstration at South Puget Sound Community College in fall 2002.  Planted on along a north facing wall, with summer irrigation it has spread steadily over the 2003 and 2004 growing seasons.

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